John 7:20, How does a crowd reply?

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Tim Evans
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Joined: July 10th, 2015, 1:40 am

John 7:20, How does a crowd reply?

Post by Tim Evans »

Hi guys,

I've often wondered "How does a crowd reply", that is, what sort of mental image does this create in terms of the real event it is describing. I.e:
20 ἀπεκρίθη ὁ ὄχλος· δαιμόνιον ἔχεις· τίς σε ζητεῖ ἀποκτεῖναι
Now as I read this types of phrases in the Greek with consideration of translation, I can't help but wonder if there might be a translational issue here? would the original reader/hearer if this story see it the same way as us, I.e. Also left not knowing how exactly the crowd replied? Or perhaps could this phrase be understood in a more specific way, i.e. The lead protester? Or something else?

(I guess they would read it exactly as we would, i.e. The exact mechanism for a crowd replying is unknown and not relevant to the purpose of the story, but I can't help but wonder)
Jonathan Robie
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Location: Durham, NC
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Re: John 7:20, How does a crowd reply?

Post by Jonathan Robie »

In English, we often say "they said", which is equally vague. Human language is often like that.

I imagine the same issue comes up any time the common participle λέγοντες is used ...
ἐξίσταντο δὲ πάντες καὶ διηποροῦντο, ἄλλος πρὸς ἄλλον λέγοντες, τί θέλει τοῦτο εἶναι;
http://jonathanrobie.biblicalhumanities.org/
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